Apparatus for opening and securing of carrier bags

ABSTRACT

There is provided an improved apparatus for opening of carrier bags and securing of such bags in opened condition. The apparatus is of the type comprising a magazine with a carrier means for suspension of bags, means for feeding of bags in the magazine, means for automatic gripping and carrying along of the front wall of the foremost bag in the magazine, and holding means for retaining the rear wall of the bag. The gripping means comprise at least one pair of relatively movable gripping members which operate in synchronism with the holding means, means being provided for exertion of periodical pressure on the holding means, so that the holding means is released simultaneously with termination of the gripping action of the gripping members.

Kristiansen Nov. 4, 1975 APPARATUS FOR OPENING AND SECURING 0F CARRIER BAGS [76] Inventor: Asbjiirn Helge Kristiansen, Vagtsgt.

56, Oslo 4, Norway [22] Filed: Nov. 26, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 527,300

[52] U.S. Cl. 53/384; 53/188 [51] Int. Cl. B6SB 43/28 [58] Field of Search 53/384, 188

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,075,324 1/1963 Burks et al 53/384 X 3,789,570 2/1974 Mullins 53/384 X Primary ExaminerTravis S. McGehee Attorney, Agent, or FirmStevens, Davis, Miller &

Mosher [57] ABSTRACT There is provided an improved apparatus for opening of carrier bags and securing of such bags in opened condition. The apparatus is of the type comprising a magazine with a carrier means for suspension of bags, means for feeding of bags in the magazine, means for automatic gripping and carrying along of the front wall of the foremost bag in the magazine, and holding means for retaining the rear wall of the bag. The gripping means comprise at least one pair of relatively movable gripping members which operate in synchronism with the holding means, means being provided for exertion of periodical pressure on the holding means, so that the holding means is released simultaneously with termination of the gripping action of the gripping members.

7 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures Sheet 1 of2 US. Patent Nov. 4, 1975 Us. Patent Nov. 4, 1975 sheetzofz 3,916,603

APPARATUS FOR OFENING AND SECURING OF CARRIER BAGS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an apparatus for opening of carrier bags and securing thereof in opened condition, comprising a magazine with a carrier means for suspension of bags by means of through-going holes in the bags, means for feeding of bags in the magazine, means for gripping and carrying along of the front wall of the foremost bag, and a holding means for retaining the rear wall of the bag.

Such apparatuses are especially intended for use at check-out counters in shops and supermarkets, in order to provide for opening of carrier bags and securing of such bags in opened condition during filling of commodities.

A previously known apparatus of said type is constructed for opening of plastic carrier bags provided with cut-outs in one bag wall and having through-going holes for suspension on carrying rods in the bag magazine. By opening of a bag this is pulled out from the carrying rods and the bag is secured in open condition by means of special clamping devices cooperating with the gripping and opening means and the means for securing of the rear bag wall.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to provide an apparatus which is able to automatically open carrier bags without these needing cut-outs in one bag wall, and which apparatus is further capable of securing the opened bags without special clamping devices, which means simpler and cheaper production of bags as well as apparatuses.

For the achievement of the above mentioned object there is provided an apparatus of the type set forth above wherein, according to the invention, the gripping means comprise at least one pair of cooperating, relatively movable gripping members adapted to operate in synchronism with the holding means for the rear wall of the bag, means being provided for exertion of periodical pressure on the holding means, for release of the holding means simultaneously with termination of the gripping action of the gripping members.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention the gripping members are mounted on the forward ends of respective, axially displaceable and telescopically arranged tubular members coupled to an operating device for axial displacement of the tubes and relative movement of the gripping members, the operating device being driven in synchronism with the means for exertion of periodical pressure on the holding means.

Further features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings showing emodiments of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a partly sectioned, fragmentary side view of an apparatus according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the gripping and opening devices of the apparatus;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are fragmentary side views showing different operational phases of the gripping members in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of gripping members in the form of cooperating rollers; and

FIG. 6 shows an alternative embodiment of the holding means for the rear wall of the foremost bag in the magazine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION In the schematic view of FIG. 1 the apparatus is shown to comprise a housing or casing 1 accommodating a magazine for the reception of a number of carrier bags 13. The bags are suspended on a carrier means in the form of a pair of parallel carrying rods 8 (only one rod is shown) extending from the rear wall of the casing l to a magazine opening in the casing. Behind the bags 13 there is arranged a device for feeding of carrier bags towards the magazine opening, which device is in the form of a pusher 9 slidably supported on the carrying rods 8. The pusher 9 exerts pressure on the bags 13, as more closely described later, and thus acts as a holding means for securing or retaining the rear wall 14 of the foremost bag, this wall being pushed against a stop plate (21 in FIGS. 3 and 4) at the magazine opening as a result of pressure from the pusher 9.

The means for gripping and carrying along of the forward wall 15 of the foremost bag in the magazine com,- prise two devices (only one is shown) disposed side by side and located above and between the carrying rods 8. In the embodiment shown gripping members 6, 7 are disposed at the forward ends of respective, axially displaceable and telescopically arranged tubular members 2 and 4. The gripping member located immediately adjacent to the bag magazine is attached to the outer tube or catcher arm 2, whereas the outwardly located or outermost gripping member 7 is attached to the inner tube or catcher arm 4. Instead of a tube the inner catcher arm may consist of a solid rod. Further, the members 2 and 4 do not need to be cylindrical. The outer tube 2 is slidably supported in bearings 10 and is further provided with an axial slot 3 into which there projects a friction block 11 attached to the casing l and bearing against and pressing on the inner tube member 4. The inner tube member 4 is at its inner end provided with a lug 5 cooperating with a stop 12 attached to the inner wall of the casing 1. In this way the movement of the gripping members 6, 7 away from the bag magazine is limited in that the lug 5 hits the stop 12. At the same time there is achieved enhanced clamping of the gripping members in their outer position wherein the bag in question is completely opened.

In FIG. 2 there is shown a perspective view of parts of one of the gripping and opening devices. The sketch shows angular gripping members 6 and 7 on the respective catcher arms 2 and 4 wherein the downwards projecting angle legs of the gripping members are placed on respective sides of a wall of a bag 15. At their ingoing movement towards the bag magazine the gripping members are lifted or raised in that a bolt 25 attached to the outer tube 2 slids on an inclined arm 26 which is pivotally mounted on the apparatus, so that the catcher arm assembly is turned and the gripping members lifted to a suitable position from which they are introduced into the bag.

The apparatus according to FIG. 1 is adapted for pneumatic operation. The suggested compressor 16 supplies compressed air through hose connections 17 to cylinder-piston-units which are respectively operatively connected to the telescopic assembly 2, 4 and to the pusher 9 for feeding of bags. Thus, the cylinder 19 contains a piston which by way of a piston rod is coupled to the outer tube 2, and the cylinder 20 contains a piston which by way of a piston rod is coupled to the pusher 9. On the pusher there is mounted a pawl device 27 making it possible at any time to achieve the same pressure on the bags as the number of bags in the magazine is gradually reduced. Instead of having pneumatic drive means the apparatus may be constructed for mechanical operation, with an electric motor being mechanically coupled to the gripping and holding means of the apparatus.

The pneumatic drive arrangements shown is so constructed that the gripping members, as mentioned above, operate in synchronism with the holding means for the rear bag wall. Thus, in the embodiment of FIG. 1 the pneumatic unit 20 causes that the pusher 9 exerts periodical pressure on the bags in the magazine, in synchronism with the function of the gripping members. The pressing force of the pusher is thus released or disconnected when the gripping members are moved towards the bag magazine and brought into engagement with the foremost bag wall, and are subsequently switched in or connected by the outward movement of the gripping members.

In FIGS. 3 and 4 there are shown different operational phases of the gripping members. FIG. 3 shows the relative position of the gripping members 6, 7 in the opening phase, the members being located a distance from each other when being moved downwards along the bag sides 14, 15. The pusher 9 is then not actuated by the device 20. FIG. 4 shows the opened bag wherein the gripping members are clamped together about the forward bag side. The pusher 9 is here under pressure from the pneumatic device, and the rear bag wall is thus secured in that it is pressed against the shown stop plate 21. It is to be noted that in this condition the bag is withdrawn or pulled out from the carrying rods 8.

In FIG. 1 there is shown a control means 18 which is connected in the hose connection 17 and comprises a push button for start of an operational sycle for opening or release, respectively, ofa bag. The bags may also be opened automatically by means of photocell or microswitch control of an electric drive motor for the apparatus.

In FIG. there is shown an alternative embodiment of the gripping members wherein these consist of a pair of cooperating rollers or pulleys 23, 24 which are rotatably mounted in a roller holder 22 attached to the catcher arm 2. An arm 28 attached to the catcher arm 4 is coupled to an eccentric pivot on the roller 23. In the innermost position of the catcher arms the rollers abut or rest against the forward bag wall 15. By moving or pulling the catcher arm 4 a distance further inwards than the catcher arm 2 when the rollers 23, 24 rest against the bag wall 15, the rollers effect a rotating movement in the direction of the shown arrows, so that the bag wall is drawn or moved in between the rollers. Instead of rollers it is also contemplated to use other forms of frictional elements which may be brought into engagement with the forward bag wall and grip or catch this wall by relative movement of the elements. The movement of the frictional elements is controlled in synchronism with the periodical pressure actuation of the pusher. Thus there is achieved simultaneous securing of the forward as well as the rearward bag wall of the opened bag, so that the bag can not slid down from its suspension points. The rollers or pulleys are released from the forward bag wall in that they are rotated in the opposite direction and simultaneously the pressure on the pusher is neutralized or terminated. Thereby the forward as well as the rearward bag wall is released from its suspension.

In FIG. 6 there is shown another embodiment of the means for securing of the rearward bag wall. The pusher 9, which in this case is slidably mounted on car rying rods 32, is not connected to a pneumatic drive means, but is affected by a spring 31 so that there is exerted a relatively weak permanent pressure on the bags 13. In this embodiment there is provided a holding means in the form of an element 29 which is mounted on the casing or the shown plate 21 and is adapted to be actuated by a suitable drive means, for exertion of periodical pressure on the holding means. The holding means is provided with at least one spike or tip causing penetration and securing of the rearward bag wall when it is not actuated by said pressure means by way of a drive member, e.g. a rod 30. When the gripping members are released from the forward wall of an opened bag by means of the associated operating device, the rearward bag wall is simultaneously released in that the drive member 30 is actuated and pushes the tip of the holding element out of engagement with the bag wall. The device is advantageous in its simpleness and in that substantially less effort or power exertion is needed for actuation of this holding means than for actuation of the pusher when this is to exert sufficient pressure through the bags 13 in the magazine. Thus a relatively small drive motor for the apparatus may be used.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for opening of carrier bags and securing thereof in opened condition, comprising a magazine with a carrier means for suspension of bags by means of through-going holes in the bags, means for feeding of bags in the magazine, means for gripping and carrying along of the front wall of the foremost bag, and a holding means for retaining the rear wall of the bag, wherein the gripping means comprise at least one pair of cooperating, relatively movable gripping members adapted to operate in synchronism with the holding means for the rear wall of the bag, means being provided for exertion of periodical pressure on the holding means, for release of the holding means simultaneously with termination of the gripping action of the gripping members.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the gripping members are mounted on the forward ends of respective, axially displaceable and telescopially arranged tubular members coupled to an operating device for axial displacement of the tubes and relative movement of the gripping members, the operating device being driven in synchronism with the means for exertion of periodical pressure on the holding means.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the gripping members are plate members adapted to be disposed on each side of the foremost bag wall, and a friction means is provided acting on the inner of the telescopic tubes for causing clamping together of the plate members by movement thereof away from the bag magazine, the gripping member located adjacent the bag magazine being attached to the outer tube and the outwardly located gripping member being attached to the inner tube, and the operating device further being coupled to the outer tube.

rear bag wall is retained by means of the means for feeding of bags, and wherein the means for exertion of periodical pressure is acting on the feeding means, so that the pressure is released when the gripping membets are moved in direction towards the bag magazine and is switched on after that the gripping members are brought into engagement with the foremost bag wall.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the holding means includes a resilient means with a tip providing for penetration and securing of the rear bag wall when it is not influenced by said pressure means. 

1. An apparatus for opening of carrier bags and securing thereof in opened condition, comprising a magazine with a carrier means for suspension of bags by means of through-going holes in the bags, means for feeding of bags in the magazine, means for gripping and carrying along of the front wall of the foremost bag, and a holding means for retaining the rear wall of the bag, wherein the gripping means comprise at least one pair of cooperating, relatively movable gripping members adapted to operate in synchronism with the holding means for the rear wall of the bag, means being provided for exertion of periodical pressure on the holding means, for release of the holding means simultaneously with termination of the gripping action of the gripping members.
 2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the gripping members are mounted on the forward ends of respective, axially displaceable and telescopially arranged tubular members coupled to an operating device for axial displacement of the tubes and relative movement of the gripping members, the operating device being driven in synchronism with the means for exertion of periodical pressure on the holding means.
 3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the gripping members are plate members adapted to be disposed on each side of the foremost bag wall, and a friction means is provided acting on the inner of the telescopic tubes for causing clamping together of the plate members by movement thereof away from the bag magazine, the gripping member located adjacent the bag magazine being attached to the outer tube and the outwardly located gripping member being attached to the inner tube, and the operating device further being coupled to the outer tube.
 4. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the inner tube is provided with a stopping means cooperating with a stop mounted on the apparatus, for limiting the movement of the gripping members away from the bag magazine and simultaneously result in enhanced clamping between the gripping members in their outer position.
 5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the gripping members comprise cooperating rollers adapted for relative rotation for securing and release, respectively, of the foremost bag wall.
 6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rear bag wall is retained by means of the means for feeding of bags, and wherein the means for exertion of periodical pressure is acting on the feeding means, so that the pressure is released when the gripping members are moved in direction towards the bag magazine and is switched on after that the gripping members are brought into engagement with the foremost bag wall.
 7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the holding means includes a resilient means with a tip providing for penetration and securing of the rear bag wall when it is not influenced by said pressure means. 